Machine for treating hides or skins



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet Il.

I. VAUGHN. MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES 0B. SKINS.

No. 535,777. Pateged Mar. 12, ,1895.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I. VAUGHN. MACHINE PQR TRBATING HIDES 0R' SKINS. No. 535,777. l Patented Mar. l2, 1895.

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ATENT IRA VAUGHN, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VAUGHN MACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDE'S OR SKINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,777, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed August 2, 1894.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA VAUGHN, residing in Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Treating Hides or Skins, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a machine or apparatus for treating hides, either tanned or untanned, and is an improvement upon machines of that class shown and described in United States Patent No. 373,112, dated No vemloer 15, 1887.

My present invention is embodied in a machine or apparatus which embraces features shown and described in United States Patent No. 525,372, granted to me September 14, 1891, and is applicable to all of the various treatments of the hide or skin mentioned in said application, such as unhairing, breaking, lieshing, putting-out, green-shaving, buffing, Whitening, dac., and is especially adapted for what may be termed heavy work, that is, the treatment of large and heavy hides or skins.

To facilitate description, I will hereinafter describe the machine as employed for unhairing the hide or skin.

One feature of this presentl invention consists in a novel driving mechanism by which the desired power for handling heavy work may be obtained. y

Another feature consists in a novel construction of automatic mechanism for controlling the driving mechanism, as will be deend ofthe machine from that shown in Fig. l,

and Fig. f1, a sectional detail to be referred to. The main operating parts of the machine SerialNo.519,265. (Nomodel.)

herein shown, comprising the drum, table or support A secured to spiders or arms A fast on a shaft A2, the hide clamping mechanism co-operating with said drum and consisting of the clamping bar A3, its arms A4 loosely mou nted-on the shaft A2 and operated upon by cushions or springs A5 interposed between the arms A1 and levers A7 pivoted to uprights A8 on the arms A4 and connected together by the cross-bar A6, the said levers being acted upon by stationary cams A0, secured to the framework of the machine, consisting of the upright frames A10 A12; the intermediate mechanism connecting the levers A7 to the spiders A and consisting of the links A13 Al1 joined together by the shaft or pin A14gb upon which is the roller A co-operating with a stationary cam` A0, the operating roll A15 provided with acting vanes or knives A16 and having its shaft A15 mounted in boxes A1T A18, pivotally supported by set screws A10 A20 in lugs or earsvA21A22 secured to or forming part of levers A22 A21, are and may be of substantially the construction shown in the application referred to, except that inthe present instance, the levers A23 A24 are shown as curved (see Fig. 3) and pivoted at their rear end as at d to theframework of the machine.

The levers A23 A24 are connected at their front end by adjustable rods ct a2 to cranks or arms aof (see Figs. 1 and 4) loosely mounted on a rock shaft a5 having bearings in the upright frames A10 A12 and provided, as herein shown, with a foot treadle a0, the said cranks or arms having rearward extensions 200, to which are secured rods or bars a1 having removably secured thereto or mounted thereon counter weights as for the operating roll A15. In the presentinstance, each rearward extension 200 of the cranks or arms c3 a1 has secured to or forming part of it a depending arm d10, with which co-operates a crank or arm @L12 fast on the rock shaft c5, and between them .is interposed a coiled spring @12 or other yielding medium forming a yielding connection between the rock shaft and the operating roll A15, which yielding connection co-operates with the pivoted bearings for the said roll, to permit the said roll to accommodate itself to hides of uneven thickness,and thereby obtain a more effective action on the hide IOO or skin, as fully set forth in the application referred to.

In order thathides or skins of substantially large size and Weight may be readily and easily operated upon, the movable support, drum or table A is driven or moved in opposite directions, by a substantially strong driving mechanism preferably of a construction as will now be described.

The driving mechanism referred to, consists essentially of a substantially large worm gear 19 fast on an extension 10 of the drum supporting shaft A2, the said extension being supported at its outer end in an upright frame B forming part of the framework of the apparatus. The worm gear '19 is rotated by means of a worm 19 (see dotted lines Fig. 2) which worm is mounted on ashaft 192 extended substantially at right angles to the drum shaft A2, and having bearings at its opposite ends in suitable boXes193194in a substantially horizontal framework B, firmly secured in any suitable manner to the uprights A and A10. The worm shaft 192 is designed to have a rotary motion in opposite directions, in order to produce an oscillating movement of the drum A, and to effect this rotary movement of a worm shaft located substantially at right angles to the drum shaft, I employ a novel arrangement of pulleys and belts, which will now be described.

The worm shaft 192 has loosely mounted on it a substantially large pulley 195 and a preferably smaller pulley 190, and between the said pulleys is interposed an intermediate pulley 197 loosely mounted on a stud or shaft 198 having'bearings in a bracket 190 attached to the upright A10. The pulleys referred to, are driven from a pulley 1912 on a shaft 1915 supported in bearings in the uprights A10 and B, the said pulleys having passed about them an endless belt 1911, which passes from the pulley 1912 down under the loose pulleys 195 190 and over the intermediate pulley 191.

The shaft 1913 constitutes the main or driving shaft for the apparatus, and in the present instance, the said shaft has fast on it at opposite ends of the machine, pulleys 1915 1916 connected by belts 1917 1918 to pulleys 1919 1920 on the shaft A1511 of the operating roll A15. The main or driving shaft 1912 may be driven from a suitable power shaft or from any other source of supply, and in the present instance, the said shaft is represented in Fig. 1 as provided with a pulley 1921 loose on it and adapted to be rendered fast thereon by means of a clutch mechanism, which may be of any suitable construction, but which is shown as consisting of a collar or sleeve 1922 and a pivoted finger 1923 with which the collar or sleeve is adapted to be brought intoengage1nent,when it is desired to render the pulley 1921 fast on its shaft 1913. This clutch mechanism may and preferably will be substantially the same as that shown and described in United States Patent No. 444,173, dated January 6, 1891.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the belt 1914 passes from the pulley 1912 down under the loose pulley 195 from the left toward the right, looking from the rear of the machine, and thence over the intermediate pulley 192, thence down under the smaller loose pulley 195 from right to left, looking from the rear ofthe machine, thence up over the pulley 1912. It will thus be seen that the pulleys 195 19G are driven by the belt 1911 in opposite directions, and in practice, it is preferred to have the drum travel slower in what may be termed the forward direction, that is, from the front toward the back of the machine or in the direction indicated by arrow 20, Fig. 2, than it travels in a backward direction, and for this purpose, the loose pulley 195 is preferably made larger than the pulley 190.

The opposite rotations of the pulleys may be readily understood by the arrows in Fig. 2 showing the direction of travel of the belt, that is, when the main shaft and its pulley 1912 are rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 2], the belt 1914 is traveling in the direction indicated by arrow 22 and causes the pulley 195 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 23, that is, in the direction opposite to the movement of the hands of a watch, and the belt on its passage over the intermediate pulley rotates it in the direction indicated by arrow 24, and passing under the smaller loose pulley 196 rotates it in the direction indicated by the arrow 25, which is in the same direction as the movement of the hands of a watch. Theloose pulleys 195 196 may and preferably will be rendered fast on the worm shaft 192 by means of aclutch mechanism, which may and preferably will be of substantially the construction shown in the Patent No. 444,173 above referred to, and consisting essentially of the sliding collars or sleeves 1925, 1925 and the pivoted fingers 1921, 1928 co-operating therewith, after the manner described in said patent.

The sleeves or collars 1925, 7920 are loose on the worin shaft 192 to slide or move longitudinally thereon, and this sliding movement may be effected by mechanism preferably of the construction herein shown, it consisting of two elbow levers c c pivoted as at c2c3 to a bar or frame 020 extended from the front to the back of the machine and resting as herein shown upon the longitudinal stringere or supporting beams c4 c5.

'lhe elbow levers c c have their upright arms loosely connected to the collars 1925 1920 to move the same longitudinally on the worm shaft 192, and their substantially horizontal arms 2-3 are preferably provided with rollers 4-*5 to be engaged by collars or hubs c5 c7 fast on a longitudinally moving rod o8 and provided with oppositely inclined surfaces 7-8 constituting cam surfaces, which co-operate with the rollers 4 5 on the arms 2 3 IOO IIO

of the elbow levers, to tip the said elbow levers on their pivots c2 c3 and move thesliding collars or sleeves-1925 1926 longitudinally on the The collars or sleeves 1925 hifi in the present arrangement are moved in the same direction to engage the fingers b2' Z928, that is, in the direction indicated by arrow 40, Fig. 2, and in the opposite direction to disengage the said fingers, and this movement of the collars or sleeves Z325 Z126 in the same direction, to render their respective pulleys fast on the worm shaft, is accomplished by mounting the cam hubs c c7 on the rod or bar es, so that the cam surfaces 6--7 incline in opposite directions and by moving the cam carrying rod e8 in opposite directions, to bring the cam hub c` in engagement with the arm 2 of the lever c on the movement of the bar o8 in one direction, namely, in the direction indicated by arrow 40, and to bring the cam hub c7 in engage ment with the arm 3 of the elbow lever c' on the forward movement of the rod ce, that is, in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 40. The rod, o8, as herein shown, is free to slide in hangers or arms cm, o12 depending frcm the supporting frame or bar 030, and the said movement may and preferably will be effected after the manner herein shown, and as will now be described. The reciprocating bar or rod o8 has fast on it a collar or hub 014 herein shown as provided with a substantially horizontal arm 015 (see Figs. l and 2) connected by a link o16 to a crank or arm c17 to 'which the said link is pivotally connected, the said crank or arm being secured to a vertical shaft or spindle 018 provided as herein shown with a handle cw, the said shaft being supported at its upper end by a bracket 020 and at its lower end by a suitable step 021.

As represented in Fig. 2, the cam hubs c6 c7 are out of engagement with the friction rollers 4 5 of the clutch Operating elbow levers c c', and in what may be termed their central or inoperative position, at which time the operating parts of the machine or apparatus are at rest. When it is desired to set the machine in motion to treat the hide or skin `carried by the drum A, the operatory turns the handle C19 to the right (viewing Fig. l), so as to move the clutch operating bar or rod e8 in the direction indicated by arrow 40, which movement brings the cam hub c6 under the roller 4 of the clutch operating lever c,

.under the pivoted finger b2?, thereby rendering the loose pulley h5 faston the worm shaft b2. The worm shaft b2 is, by this operation, set in motion, which rotates the worm gear b in the direction indicated by arrow 20, thereby rotating the drum carrying shaft A2 and its drum A in the same direction, which may be regarded as in the forward direction, that is, toward the rear of the machine. When the drum is started in its forward rotation, the hide, which has been previously placed upon it, preferably so as to fallpartly within the drum and partly without, is firmly gripped by the clamping mechanism, when the drum has carried the levers or links A14 suflciently far to bring th'e rollers AX in contact `with the periphery of the stationary cams A9, and at or about the time the hide is thus firmly clamped to the drum, the operator depresses the treadle a5, and causes the cranks or arms cl2 to compress the springs cl3 between them and the arms am, and during the compressing action of the springs als, the cranks or arms c3 d4 are rocked on the power shaft so as to move the roller carrying levers d23 @24 downward, and bring the operating roll A15 into contact with the hide or skin, to perform its work. When the drum or support A has been carried in its forward direction the desired or required distance for the proper treatment of that portion of the skin on the outside of the drum, the operator reverses the movement of the handle c19 and moves it from its forward position at the right of that shown in Fig. liuto its reversed position, which would be at the left of that shown in Fig. l and toward the upright A10. This re` verse movement of the handle c19 moves the clutch operating bar or rod o8 from its eXtreme forward position into its central or normal position and then into a position at the left of that shown in Fig. 2, namely, with the cam hub c7 carried under the roller 5 of the clutch operating lever c', while the cam hub c6 would be withdrawn from the clutch operating lever c. The engagement of the cam hub c7 with the roller 5 of the clutch operating lever c, causes the said lever to turn on its pivot and move the clutch. sleeve Z926 in the direction indicated by arrow 40 and under the pivoted linger 528,' thereby rendering the loose pulley o6 fast on the worm shaft b2. As the cam hub c6 is withdrawn from engagement with the arm 2 of the clutch operating lever c, the latter is turned back into its normal position so as to move the clutch sleeve Z925 away'from the pivoted linger b2", which movement of the clutch operating lever c may be effected by gravity or in any other suitable manner. When theloosepulleybisrendered fast on the worm shaft b2 as vjust described, the said worm shaft is rotated in a direction so as to produce a rotation of the worm gear, its shaft and the drum A, in a backward direction, `that is, in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 20; and on`its backward movement, the operating roll A15 may or may not be held in engagement with the hide or skin, and the clamping bar A3 will firmly hold the hide or skin between it and the drum, until the rollers AX shall have passedoff from the periphery of the stationarycams, and into their cut-away or re-entrant portions, which movement causes the opening ICO IIO

of the clamping bar at or about the time the drum has been returned to its normal position; and.when the said drum has substantially reached its normal position, the operator brings the handle c1n to its central or starting position shown in Fig. l, thereby bringing the cam hubs c6 c7 into their normal or central position shown in Fig. 2, and when in this position the power is withdrawn from the worm shaft, and the drum A is then at rest. The operator then reverses the position of the hide, that is, he removes the hide from the drum and again places it on the drum, so that that half which has been previously acted upon, will be within the drum, and that portion which was previously within the drum will be on the outside of the drum in position to be acted upon by the operating roll A15. As thus far described, the starting and stopping of the oscillating movements of the drum has been dependent upon the operator, but in order to automatically stop the rotation of the drum at the end of its forward movement and also at the end of its backward or return movement, to provide against accident in case the attention of the operator should be diverted from his work, the clutch operating bar e8 is adapted to be automatically operated upon, to reverse the forward movement of the drum and to bring the drum to rest on its backward movement. This result may be accomplished by a mechanism substantially as herein shown, and consisting of two cams or dogs d d preferably adjustably secured on the drum shaft A2, as by set screws cl2, the said dogs or cams being adapted to engage rollers d3 d4 pivotally mounted in the forked arms d5 d6 of a lever Z7 pivoted as at d8 to the upright B (see Figs. l and 2) and having its lower arm d8@ pivotally connected as at C19 to the horizontally extended arm C15 on the rod or bar c, the lever arm also being shown in Fig. l as pivotally connected to an upright ear d12 on the said horizontally extended arm.

The forked arms d5 d are placed out of line with each other as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the dogs d d are secured on the drum shaft so as to engage the rollers d3 d carried by the said arms, if the drum is permitted to rotate beyond the normal limit of its forward movement, and also beyond the normal limit of its backward movement, for in the forward movement of the drum A, the dog d will engage the arm d5 of the lever Z7 and will turn or rock the said lever, so as to move its arm d8() and the clutch operating bar or rod o8 in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 40, thereby withdrawing the cam hub c6 from engagement with the clutch lever c, andthe movement of the bar or rod o8 in the direction specified, is continued by the engagement of the dog d', until the cam hub c7 is brought in engagement with the clutch lever c to render the reversing pulley DG fast on the worm shaft.

On the reverse or backward movement of the drum A, the dog CZ acts on the arm d6 of the lever di, if the drum is carried beyond its normal or starting position, and rocks or turns the lever Z7 so as to move its arm d8 and the clutch operating bar or rod o8, in the direction indicated by arrow 40, which movement disengages the cam hub c7 from the clutch operating lever c', and renders the reversing pulley b again loose on the worm shaft, and the dog d is so shaped as to become inactive upon the arm d of the lever di, when the latter and the clutch operating bar or rod o8 are in their normal, central or inoperative position, thereby withdrawing the power from the worm shaft, and stopping the drum. The apparatus or machine is then in its normal condition or position, ready for the treatment of a new hide or skin.

l claiml. In a machine for treating hides or skins, the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz-a movable drum or support for the hide or skin to be treated, a worm gear connected to the said drum or support to move therewith, a worm shaft substantially at right angles to the said drum and having a worm in engagement with the said gear, normally loose pulleys on said worm shaft rotating in opposite directions, clutch mechanisms co-operating with said pulleys and comprising clutch collars or sleeves movable in the same direction, levers to operate them and a clutch operating rod to act on said levers, for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for treating hides or skins, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz:a movable drum or support for the hide or skin to be treated, a worm gear connected to the said drum or support to move therewith, a worm shaft having a worm in engagement with the said gear, loose pulleys on said worm shaft, clutch mechanisms to engage said pulleys to render them fast on the said worm shaft and comprising clutch sleeves or collars adapted to slide on said worm shaft, clutch levers connected to said sleeves or collars, a clutch operating rod provided with cam surfaces to operate said clutch levers, and means to positively move said clutch operating rod, substantially as described.

3. In amachine for treating hides or skins, the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz-a movable drum or support for the hide or skin to be treated, a worm gear connected to the said drum or support to move therewith, aworm shaft having a worm in engagement with the said gear, loose pulleys on said worm shaft, clutch mechanisms to engage said pulleys to render them fast on the said worm shaft and comprising clutch sleeves or collars adapted to slide on said worm shaft, clutch levers connected to said sleeves or collars, a clutch operating rod provided with cam surfaces to operate said clutch levers, and mechanism to automatically operate said clutch operating rod, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for treating hides or skins,

IOO

the combination of the following instrumentalities, vizz--a movable drum or support for the hide or skin to be treated, a Worm gear connected to the said drum or support to move therewith, aworm shaft having a worm in engagement with the said gear, loose pulleys on said worm shaft, clutch mechanisms to engage said pulleys to render them fast on the said Worm shaftand comprising clutch sleeves or collars adapted to slide on said worm shaft, clutch levers connected to said sleeves or collars, a clutch operating rod provided with cam surfaces to operate said clutch levers, a driving shaft, a pulley on said shaft,a pulley intermediate of the pulleys on the worm shaft, and an 4endless belt passed about said pulleys to produce opposite rotations of the loose pulleys on the worm shaft, for the purpose specified.

5. In a machine for treating hides or skins, the combination ofthe following instrumentalities, vizz-a movable drum or support for the hide or skin to be treated, an operating roll (3o-operating therewith, levers pivoted at their rear ends and provided withlpivotal supports for the journal boxes of the operating roll, a rock shaft, arms loose thereon, rods connecting said pivoted levers to the said arms, counter-balancing weights carried by said arms, cranks fast on the rock shaft, and springs or cushions interposed between the said cranks and arms, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for treating hides or skins, the combination with clutch hubs or sleeves movable in the same direction, a shaft on which said hubs or sleeves are mounted clutch levers to operate said sleeves or hubs, and a reciprocating bar or rod provided with oppositely inclined cam surfaces to act on said clutch levers, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

IRA VAUGHN.

lVitnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, t J. MURPHY. 

